Ishant Sharma and Murali Vijay - Tale of Two Comebacks

[sarcastic]

With the key away tours to South Africa, England and Australia looming on the horizon for Virat Kohli and boys, the team management has a major headache to solve. But for a change, it will be a good headache as the team management is spoilt for choice especially in the fast bowling and the opening department.
 

 

If 1st Test was all about Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami's heroics, then in the 2nd Test, Ishant Sharma has once again proven why he remains one of India's premier fast bowlers, especially in the longest format.

Ishant has been one of the unsung heroes of the Indian team, more often ridiculed than praised by both media and fans alike. But he has again chosen to answer his critics on the field with impeccable performance on a pitch which wasn't exactly tailor-made for fast bowling.

Ishant's consistency in line and length, and his patience showed as he ended with figures of 3/37 in the 1st innings. With India likely to go for three pacers in away tours, this performance might well ensure that he gets a spot in the playing XI come January.

When not playing for team India, Ishant led his Ranji side Delhi and performed well there as well, taking 20 wickets and the team sealed a spot in the quarterfinals. His spell against Ricky Ponting is a tale of legends and that is often been the image that comes to mind when one thinks of Ishant Sharma, what people forget is the fact that he played a vital role for India in other memorable wins such as the Champions Trophy in 2013 and the famous Lord's Test victory in 2014.

Ishant's ability to bowl long spells and find the right line and length early in his spell make him an asset for any captain. He might not get wickets every time but in Test cricket, the lanky pacer has the ability to build pressure which often yields wickets for other bowlers. With Umesh Yadav still struggling to find the right areas, this makes Ishant's role all the more crucial.

Sri Lanka might not be the toughest opposition and the fast bowler's real test will come next year when India embarks on a series of away tours, but so far the signs have been promising to say the least.

The Monk Stamps His Class

Murali Vijay's story is remarkably similar to Ishant Sharma's especially when it comes to recognition. On the weight of his runs, a fit Murali Vijay should walk into the batting line-up of any team in the world but such has been the fight for places in the Indian team that the Tamil Nadu batsman had to make way for Shikhar Dhawan in the 1st Test.

Statistically speaking, Murali Vijay is India's finest Test batsman after Virat Kohli in foreign conditions (outside the sub-continent). Here is a statistical comparison between Vijay, Kohli, Pujara and Rahane which further elucidates this point:



This despite the fact Vijay faces the new ball more often than not, also he averages much better than Virat Kohli in England, which still remains the final frontier for the Indian captain to conquer. What makes Vijay a perfect Test player is his ability to leave the ball, which is a rare ability in this see ball-hit ball T20 era.

He can mould himself according to the situation, as he showed on Friday, when India had to play out the day and he decided to leave everything that wasn't on the stumps. Then, on Saturday he came out all guns blazing and was the aggressor in the partnership with Pujara. This ton against Sri Lanka is his 10th overall and makes him the third most successful Indian Test opener behind Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag, a remarkable achievement indeed.

India's has been remarkably successful in the last year in Test matches but even Virat Kohli knows, as he often speaks, that his real legacy as a skipper will be decided by away tours. Two important cogs in the team for those tours will surely be Ishant Sharma and Murali Vijay.

Edited November 27, 2017 by sarcastic

[vishalvirsingh]

Hats off to both.

Specially to ishant.

He was no where in the first 5 bowlers and now his pace on a Nagpur wicket and his length which never was correct is now immaculate and he is getting wickets too.

He bowled five balls at 141k in an over in Nagpur..constantly high speeds.

Constant pressure on Lanka.

Missed an easy return catch

Hit at least three batsman.

Got wickets in slips

[vishalvirsingh]

If he is bowling at 141k average in Nagpur in his first spell..he can bowl at 150k in Africa n 145k average.

Africans...I will put my money on virat sena this time..especially if bumrah is picked for tests.

Both shammi n ishant are beating umesh in pace.

[Cricketics]

Hopefully we will see more than just "moral victory" from Ishant. 

[Pollack]

What outstanding has Ishant done in this comeback. 

 

 

[rkt.india]

9 minutes ago, Pollack said:

What outstanding has Ishant done in this comeback. 

 

 

You didn't watch the game.

[velu]

kohlis conversion ratio

 

[goose]

i've told you before re Ishant...i sincerely hope your post was inspired by your name.

either that or you must be his mum.

[SUMO]

Suddenly ishant is 2nd best pacer after shami if south africa serves flat bouncy pitches

[Forever Indian]

15 minutes ago, SUMO said:

Suddenly ishant is 2nd best pacer after shami if south africa serves flat bouncy pitches

Flat is not happening in SA

[Gollum]

The hopes of any overseas triumph rest mainly on the shoulders of Murali Vijay. If peak Muraleave Vijay doesn't show up and Kohli has to walk in at 20/2 every time, we will be eviscerated. Historically whenever at least one of our openers has fired we have done quite well on the batting front, when both openers have sucked...well just check out the scorecards of 0-8 under Captain Cool. 

Edited November 28, 2017 by Gollum